Communications Specialist, Global Initiatives

EPIC - Communications The University of Chicago Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth (ICSG) is a groundbreaking effort uniting faculty from across the university to advance society’s understanding of our energy and climate future. The Institute combines faculty insights in energy markets and policy, climate systems engineering, and energy technology to produce world-changing ideas while also investing in the next generation of energy and climate thinkers, leaders, and innovators through novel educational programs. The Communications Specialist, Global Initiatives will build and lead communications strategies and carry out the daily execution of those strategies for the Institute’s various programs, labs and initiatives that have a strong global footprint. This work includes developing and maintaining relationships with international, national, and local reporters in countries around the world; managing campaign launches of new research; creating content and materials; maintaining digital communications (web, social media, email marketing); and building stakeholder engagement strategies.

This role will report to the Senior Director of Communications and External Engagement at the Institute. The incumbent will work closely with leadership and staff at the EPIC Clean Air Program, Climate Impact Lab, along with other programs.

• Leads media relations efforts for a suite of assigned programs. This entails developing relationships with international reporters, but also reporters on the ground covering environment, climate, and energy topics for national and local outlets. Develops and maintains media lists, creates pitch materials, as well as monitors, tracks, and reports on media activities and coverage.
• Maintains digital communications efforts for Institute initiatives, in coordination with the Institute’s Senior Digital Marketing Lead. These activities include managing multiple websites; composing and executing social media campaigns and maintaining daily social media activities; and creating email marketing campaigns to promote research and programming.
• Manages campaign launches for the release of new research and programming. This includes writing research summaries, news releases, and other content.
• Develops promotional documents and other collateral materials (brochures, newsletters, etc.), and manages content design and distribution. Coordinates with team members and outside consultants on data visualizations/platforms, videos, etc.
• Develops strategies to build stakeholder engagement, including, on-the-ground partnerships and programming, in addition to conducting stakeholder mapping, creating, and maintaining topical and regional stakeholder lists in key countries.
• Coordinates events and webinars to promote the initiatives and their research.
• Liaison for global outreach coordination around clean air, climate, and other topics as they develop. Joins coordination calls, informs peer institutes of plans, and engages in promotion efforts of peers.
• Records and monitors analytics for the websites, social media, and email marketing accounts of the global initiatives, and shares relevant data with the Institute communications team to inform and coordinate strategies.
• Makes contributions to the media interface, including writing press releases, planning, and organizing media coverage for major events, and crafting responses to sensitive or controversial issues.
• Solves moderate to complex problems related to the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.

• Minimum 5 years experience in a communications role.
• Working with reporters in countries outside of the United States and Europe, including those in middle- and low-income countries.
• Development and/or grassroots communications strategies and efforts, or working in multi-national organizations.
• Managing websites, email marketing and social media accounts in a professional capacity, as well as maintaining stakeholder/media lists.
• Background in energy/environmental issues strongly desired and encouraged to apply.

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficiency with web-based communication methods and tools such as MailChimp, Hubspot, WordPress, and Google Analytics or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of best practices in digital engagement and their applications to communication strategies, including through web, email, and social media.

• Strong writer who can digest and translate complex subjects for a general audience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and work both independently with a high degree of initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Manage and prioritize diverse job tasks, perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, and meet deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining professionalism and product quality.
• Strategic and creative thinking, project management, and planning skills.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, creativity, flexibility, and attention to detail.

• This is a hybrid position, with an expected 2-3 days on campus per week.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)

Communications Individual Contributor 37.5 No No No Salary Exempt $76,500.00 - $99,000.00 Yes